Surface projectile amusement device

ABSTRACT

An amusement game device which has a substantially level surface over which a playing object may be propelled, with a bumper rail substantially surrounding the playing surface. A ball propelling device is pivotally mounted at one end of the playing surface for propelling balls or other playing objects over the surface in various aimed directions from the propelling device toward an opposite end of the playing surface. A plurality of upstanding target members are mounted on a rotatable disc-shaped portion of the playing surface so as to randomly change the positions of the target members relative to the propelling device. Each target member has an actuatable elements which can be actuated by a propelled object only when the target member is struck by the object at a predetermined angle of approach, the bumper rail being capable of facilitating the striking of a target member by an object at different angles of approach. When the actuatable elements of a target member is struck by a propelled object, the upstanding target member drops to a lowermost position. A circular band of scoring indicia is provided on the playing surface adjacent the periphery of the disc which mounts the target members, the upper surface of the disc being generally flush with the surrounding playing surface.

United States Patent [191 Glass et a1.

[ SURFACE PROJECTILE AMUSEMENT DEVICE [75] Inventors: Marvin 1. Glass,Chicago; Howard J. Morrison, Deerfield; Ira B. Gilford, Highland Park,all of 111.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates,

Chicago, 111.

22 Filed: Aug. 9. 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 498,578

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 297,291, Oct.13, 1972.

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl....... 273/119 R; 273/127 R; 273/129 R [51] Int. A63D 3/02[58] Field of Search 273/118 R, 118 D, 119 R, 273/119 A, 119 B, 127 R,127 A, 127 B, 129

R, 102.1 R, 102.1 D

[ 51 Dec. 23, 1975 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Apley AssistantExaminer-T. Brown Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Coffee & Sweeney [57]ABSTRACT An amusement game device which has a substantially levelsurface over which a playing object may be propelled, with a bumper railsubstantially surrounding the playing surface. A ball propelling deviceis pivotally mounted at one end of the playing surface for propellingballs or other playing objects over the surface in various aimeddirections from the propelling device toward an opposite end of theplaying surface. A plurality of upstanding target members are mounted ona rotatable disc-shaped portion of the playing surface so as to randomlychange the positions of the target members relative to the propellingdevice. Each target member has an actuatable elements which can beactuated by a propelled object only when the target member is struck bythe object at a predetermined angle of approach, the bumper rail beingcapable of facilitating the striking of a target member by an object atdifferent angles of approach. When the actuatable elements of a targetmember is struck by a propelled object, the upstanding target memberdrops to a lowermost position. A circular band of scoring indicia isprovided on the playing surface adjacent the periphery of the disc whichmounts the target members, the upper surface of the disc being generallyflush with the surrounding playing surface.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures H US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 1 of23,927,884

U.S. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,927,884

SURFACE PROJECTILE AMUSEMENT DEVICE CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHERAPPLICATIONS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 297,291,filed Oct. I3, 1972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to askill type game designed for the entertainment of the player, and fordeveloping dexterity and coordination for the individual player, as wellas competition between a plurality of players. The invention relatesmore particularly to gameboards of the surface projectile type whichrequire skill both in aiming and in manipulating the propulsion force ofa playing object propelling device, and specifically to such a gameboardhaving a playing surface bounded by bumper rail means.

As is known, surface projectile type games normally include a playingsurface over which balls or other playing objects may be propelledtoward various target means or toward one or more pockets disposed atselected positions on or about the playing surface, particularly at thecorners thereof in pool type games. Cushion or resilient type bumberrail means substantially surround the playing surface and against whichballs or other playing objects are bounced toward other balls, towardthe pockets, or toward target type means. Typically, elongated shafts,commonly called cue sticks, are utilized by players of the game aspropulsion means for manual movement longitudinally thereof to strike aball with one end of the cue stick. In other such games, mechanized ballor object propelling devices are utilized. In still other games, targettype devices are employed rather than pockets as means for scoring thegame. There is a constant need for new and improved games of thecharacter described which are readily understood by most individuals,particularly children.

It is an object, therefore, of the present invention, to provide a newand improved amusement game device of the character described.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a ball propelling deviceis pivotally mounted for 360 rotation on the playing surface and isspaced from the bumper rails for propelling balls over the playingsurface in various aimed directions away from the propelling device intocontact with one of a plurality of target members. The target membersare mounted on the playing surface for movement in a defined path to anyone of a plurality of rest positions where they may be struck by aplaying object propelled by the propelling device.

As shown herein, the ball propelling device includes an elongatedplunger member in the form of a ratchet bar which defines an impactmember spring biased toward an extended position for engaging orstriking the ball to propel the ball over the playing surface. Cockingmeans in the form of a pawl member is provided engageable with the teethon the ratchet bar, or impact member, to selectively cock the impactmember in one of a plurality of retracted positions to vary thepropulsion force of the device. Means is provided to selectively releasethe impact member by disengaging the pawl from the ratchet bar andpermitting the bar, or impact member, to be biased to its extendedposition for striking a ball and propelling it toward the target member.

The target members are mounted on a disc which is rotatably mountedwithin an aperture in the playing surface, the top surface of the discbeing flush with the surrounding playing surface. Detent means isprovided to define a plurality of rest positions for the disc andthereby for the target members. A circular band of scoring indicia isformed on the playing surface about the aperture for the disc so thatthe disc may be rotated to randomly bring the target members intoalignment with various of the scoring indicia about the disc.

Each target member comprises an upstanding device which is held in itsupstanding position by a cocking and releasing means which comprisesactuatable means on one side of the target member and which may bestruck by a ball propelled either directly from the propelling device oroff of the bumper rail means. Should the actuatable cocking andreleasing means for a target member be struck by a ball, it will drop toa lowermost position under the force of gravity and supplemental springbiasing means.

Thus, each individual target member can be actuated (i.e., dropped toits lowermost position) only when the actuatable cocking and releasingmeans therefor is struck by a ball. The position of the cocking andreleasing means on the target member determines the angle of approach bya propelled ball necessary to drop the target member. Rotation of thedisc which, in turn, moves the target members therewith not only alignsthe target members with different scoring indicia on the playing surfaceabout the discs, but determines the actuatable angle of approach for thetarget members.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of an amusementgame device made in accordance with the concepts of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partially broken away and on an enlargedscale, of the device shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken generallyalong the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken generallyalong the line 55 of FIG. 2, and with the target member in its lowermostposition; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the various components of oneof the target members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings ingreater detail, and first to FIG. 1, the amusement game device of thepresent invention includes a box-like structure, generally designated 8,which defines a substantially level rectangular playing surface 10 whichis surrounded by bumper rail means 2. A ball propelling device,generally designated I4, is pivotally mounted by means (to be describedin greater detail hereinafter) for 360 rotation on the playing surface10. The ball propelling device is spaced from the bumper rails 12 forpropelling balls I8, or other playing objects, over the playing surfaceII] in various angular aimed directions away from the propelling device14 toward one or more of a plurality of target members, generallydesignated 20, depending on the rules of playing of the game. The targetmembers 3 preferably are disposed .at an opposite end of the playingsurface 10.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bumper rails 12 are formed by aflexible resilient band, fabricated of rubber or other appropriateelastic material, which is wrapped around four supporting posts 22 ateach corner of the rectangular playing surface It]. The supporting posts22 are generally triangularly shaped and the bumper rail band is heldbetween a pair of supplementary posts 24 adjacent the inner apex of eachof the triangularly shaped posts 22 to form the corners of the playingsurface.

The playing surface 10, in the exemplary embodiment of the invention, isfabricated of a thin, rigid supporting plate portion 26 of the basestructure 8 which is held in a raised position as shown in FIG. 3 bysurrounding supporting wall portions 28 of the base structure 8. Thesupporting plate portion 26 is covered with a sheet 30 of felt or likematerial.

The ball propelling device 14 is shown best in FIGS. 1 through 4 andincludes a housing portion 32 within which an impact member 34 ismounted for longitudinal reciprocation in the direction of double-headedarrow A (FIG. 4), the front or outer end 340 of the impact memberprotruding through an aperture 36 in the housing 32. The impact member34 is biased by a coil spring 38 toward an extended position forengaging or striking a ball 18 and propelling the ball over the playingsurface 10. The impact member 34 comprises a ratchet bar having ratchetteeth 40 which are engageable by a tooth portion 42 of a pawl member 44.The pawl member 44 is pivoted by a pin 46 to the sides of the housing 32and wing-like handle portions 48 are connected to the opposite ends ofthe pin 46 on the outside of the housing 32. The wings 48 are manuallymanipulatable by users of the game to release the impact member 34, asdescribed hereinafter. A leaf spring 50 is mounted on the inside bottomwall of the housing 32 and engages the underside of the pawl member 44to bias the tooth portion 42 thereof upwardly into engagement with theratchet teeth 40 of the impact member 34.

Thus, it can be seen that the impact member 34 may be selectively cockedby pushing the outer end 340 inwardly of the housing 32 to a retractedor cocked position as shown in FIG. 3 where the pawl member 44 holds theimpact member 34 in its cocked position against the biasing of spring38. To selectively release the impact member 34, the tooth portion 42ofthe pawl member 44 is lowered away from the ratchet teeth 40 of theimpact member against the biasing of the spring 50, whereby the coilspring 38 biases the impact member toward its extended position forpropelling a ball 18 or other playing object over the playing surface10. The pawl member 44 is lowered by a player of the game depressing thehandle forming wings 48 to release the energy stored in coil spring 38.

The housing portion 32 of the ball propelling device I4 is mounted on adisc portion 50 which is pivotally mounted on the playing surface bymeans of a depending boss portion 52 which extends downwardly through anaperture 54 in the supporting plate portion 26 of the base structure 8.A threaded or press fit nut-like member 56 is secured to the lower endof the boss portion 52 and a spring washer 58 is sandwiched between themember 56 and the underside of the supporting plate portion 26 of thebase structure 8.

The target members 20 are mounted at spaced angular positions on asupporting disc member 60. The top surface of the disc is generallyflush with the top of the playing surface 10, as best seen in FIG. 3.The disc 60 may be covered with a sheet of felt, as with the playingsurface 10. A circular band of scoring indicia 62 is formed on theplaying surface 10 about the periphery of the disc 60. The supportingdisc 60 is pivotally mounted on the base structure 8 for rotation withinan aperture 64 in the playing surface 10 by means of a supporting crossbrace 66 which extends between the side walls 28 of the base structure 8beneath the playing surface. An upstanding pivot shaft 68 is press fitwithin an aperture 70 (FIG. 3) in the cross brace 66 and extendsupwardly and is received within a cylindrical boss 72 depending from theunderside of the supporting disc 60. A ball bearing 74 is positioned ina recess in the top of the upstanding pivot shaft 68 within thecylindrical boss 72 of the support disc 60 to provide for ease ofrotation of the supporting disc. The disc is stabilized by a pluralityof supporting flaps 76 fixed to the underside of the support disc 60.The flaps protrude outwardly from the disc for abutment against theunderside of the playing surface formed by the support plate 26.

Detent means is provided in the form ofa plurality of stub-like rods 78about the peripheral underside of the supporting disc 60 for engagementwith a spring rod 80 on the underside of the support plate 26. Thedetent means provide for discreet rest positions of the supporting disc60 after it is rotated and comes to a stop. Thus, the various positionsof the target members 20, as well as their registry with the scoringindicia 62 may be changed randomly by spinning the supporting disc 60.

The structure of each of the individual target members 20 is best shownin FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 and includes an upstanding cylindrical portion 82which extends upwardly through an aperture 84 in the supporting disc 60.The cylindrical portion 82 extends downwardly through the aperture 84into an outer cylindrical member 86 depending from the underside of thesupporting disc 60. An annular flange 88 is formed on the lower end ofthe cylindrical portion 82 of the target member to stabilize thecylinder. A coil spring 90 is sandwiched between the flange 88 and theunderside of the disc with the coil spring 90 being disposed on theoutside of the cylindrical portion 82 of the target member but withinthe cylindrical member 86.

A mushroom-type cap 92 is snap-fit onto the top of the cylindricalportion 82 of each target member by means of a pair of flanges 94 on theunderside of the cap portion 92, with book portions 94a of the flanges94 snapped into a pair of apertures 96 through the sidewalls of thecylindrical portion 82. Each target member 20 thus is reciprocablymounted on the supporting disc 60 for movement between an uppermostposition shown by the lefthand target member in FIG. 3 and a lowermostposition shown in FIG. 5.

Actuatable cocking and releasing means is provided to independently holdeach of the target members 20 in its uppermost position and which may beactuated or released by the impact of a propelled ball l8 to cause thetarget member to drop to its lowermost position shown in FIG. 5.

More particularly, a cocking member, generally designated 98, ispivotally mounted within the cap portion 92 of the target member 20 bymeans of a pair of laterally protruding pivot bosses 98a which rest ontop of the hook portions 94a of the flanges 94 and which are held inposition by positioning bosses 100 on the underside of the cap portion92. As best seen in FIG. 6, the actuatable cocking means 98 is formed soas to have a weighted side portion 98b which serves to normally urge thecocking member to a position of protrusion through a vertical slot 102in the cylindrical portion 82 of the target member.

As best seen in FIGS. l and 3, the protruding position of the cockingmember 98 is such that it protrudes outwardly of the cylindrical portion82 sufficiently that the underside 980 of the cocking member 98 seats ontop of the supporting disc 60 beyond the bounds of the aperture 84 tothereby hold the target member in its raised position as shown best bythe lefthand target member in FIG. 3.

Thus, when a ball is propelled from the propelling device 14, or out ofone of the surrounding bumper rails 12, at the proper angle of approachtoward a target member such that the ball impacts with the cockingmember 28, the cocking member will be forced inwardly to a positionwhere it can by-pass the edge of the respective aperture 84 and the coilspring 90 of the respective target member will cause the same to drop toits lowermost position shown in FIG. 5.

Preferably, the cocking member 98 of the target members 20 should faceoutwardly relative to the supporting disc 60 so that the target membersfurthest away from the propelling device 14 have their cocking member 98facing outwardly toward the bumper rails 12 to require that a ball 18 bepropelled off of the bumper rails in order to drop the target member.

Various scoring indicia may be provided. In the embodiment shown in thedrawings, the indicia comprises numerical indicia to provide fornumerical scoring, obviously the smaller numbers being closer to thepropelling device 14 due to the "shot at the adjacent target membersbeing easier than the shot" at the target members at the opposite sideof the supporting disc 60.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in theart.

I claim:

1. An amusement game device, comprising: means defining a playingsurface upon which a playing object may be propelled, with bumper railmeans bounding the playing surface substantially thereabout; a playingobject to be propelled upon said playing surface; a playing objectpropelling device located in proximity to said playing surface so as tobe capable of propelling a playing object upon said playing surface,said propelling device being pivotable about a predetermined arc wherebysaid propelling device can effect propelling of said playing object invarious directions upon said playing surface; a cluster of individualupstanding target members vertically movably mounted on said playingsurface spaced at varying distances from said propelling device, andincluding individually operable actuatable means operatively mounted onone side of each of said target members for individually moving therespective target members from a raised target position to a loweredinoperative position and which can be actuated by a playing object onlywhen struck by the playing object at an angle of approach from saidpropelling device or off of said bumper rail means toward said one sideof the target members, at least some of the target members beingdisposed on the playing surface with said one sides and actuatable meansfacing outwardly at varying angles relative to each other from saidcluster, said playing surface being unobstructed between said propellingdevice and said actuatable means to provide clear passage of approach ofthe playing object to the actuatable means; and scoring indicia aboutsaid cluster of target members for registry therewith to indicate thespecific score when the actuatable means on the respective target meansis struck by the playing object, said scoring means including indiciawhich increases in value from the side of said cluster of target membersnearest said propelling device to the opposite side of said cluster oftarget members furthest away from said propelling device so that theindicia value for an individual target member generally is commensuratewith the degree of difficulty in striking the actuatable means on therespective target members.

2. An amusement game device, comprising: means defining a playingsurface upon which a playing object may be propelled, with bumper railmeans bounding the playing surface substantially thereabout; a playingobject to be propelled upon said playing surface; a playing objectpropelling device located in proximity to said playing surface so as tobe capable of propelling a playing object upon said playing surface,said propelling device being pivotable about a predetermined arc wherebysaid propelling device can effect propelling of said playing object invarious directions upon said playing surface; a cluster of targetmembers mounted on a rotatable member pivotally mounted on said playingsurface for selective rotation about a generally vertical axis spacedfrom the target member; scoring means extending in an arcuate patternadjacent the path of movement of said target members for registry withthe target members when said rotatable member comes to rest; and meansfor randomly stopping said rotatable member after rotation is initiated,including detent means so as to bring the target members to discreterest, target positions in registry with discrete portions of saidscoring means.

3. An amusement device, comprising: means defining a playing surfaceupon which a playing object may be propelled, with bumper rail meansbounding the playing surface substantially thcreabout; a playing objectto be propelled upon said playing surface; a playing object propellingdevice located in proximity to said playing surface so as to be capableof propelling a playing object upon said playing surface, saidpropelling device being pivotable about a predetermined arc to effectpropelling of said playing object at various angles upon the playingsurface and against the bumper rail means; and a cluster of individualupstanding target members mounted on said playing surface spaced atvarying distances from said propelling device, and includingindividually operable actuatable means on one side of each of saidtarget members for individually moving the respective target membersfrom a raised target position to a lowered inoperative position andwhich can be actuated by a playing object only when the actuatable meansis struck by the object at an angle of approach toward said one side ofthe target members, at least some of the target members being disposedon the playing surface with the one sides thereof and the actuatablemeans thereat facing outwardly at varying angles relative to each otherfrom said cluster so as to require at least certain of said targetmembers to be struck by rebounding the playing object off of said bumperrail means at different angles, said playing surface being unobstructedbetween said propelling device and said actuatable means to provideclear passage of approach of the playing object to the actuatable means.

4. The game device of claim 3 including actuatable cocking-release meansmounted on each of the target members for movement relative thereto aswell as movable therewith between said raised and lowered positions,said cocking-release means holding the respective target member in acocked raised position with the cocking-release means adjacent theplaying surface for actuation by an object propelled by the propellingdevice over the playing surface for releasing the respective targetmember and causing the target member to drop to its lowered position.

5. The game device of claim 4 including means to automatically resetsaid cocking-release means on the respective target member when saidtarget member is raised from said lowered position.

6. An amusement game device, comprising: means defining a playingsurface upon which a playing object may be propelled, with bumper railmeans bounding the playing surface substantially thereabout; a playingobject to be propelled upon said playing surface; a playing objectpropelling device located in proximity to said playing surface so as tobe capable of propelling a playing object upon said playing surface,said propelling device being pivotable about a predetermined arc wherebysaid propelling device can effect propelling of said playing object invarious directions upon said playing surface; a cluster of individualupstanding target members mounted on said playing surface spaced fromsaid playing object and including individually operable actuatable meanson each of said target members which can be actuated by a playing objectonly when the target member is struck by the playing object at at leastone predetermined angle of approach from said propelling device or offof said bumper rail means. said cluster of target members being mountedon a rotatable member pivotally mounted on said playing surface forselective rotation about a generally vertical axis spaced from thetarget members; scoring means about said cluster of target members forregistry therewith to indicate the specific score when the actuatablemeans on the respective target means is struck by the playing object,said scoring means including indicia which extends in an arcuate patternabout the rotatable member and which increases in value from the side ofsaid cluster of target members nearest said propelling device to theopposite side of said cluster of target members furthest away from saidpropelling device so that the indicia value for an individual targetmember generally is commensurate with the degree of difficulty instriking the actuatable means on the respective target members; andmeans to randomly stop said rotatable member after rotation is initiatedso that said target members are in discrete rest, target positions inregistry with indicia of said scoring means there being more restpositions and associated indicia than there are target members.

1. An amusement game device, comprising: means defining a playingsurface upon which a playing object may be propelled, with bumper railmeans bounding the playing surface substantially thereabout; a playingobject to be propelled upon said playing surface; a playing objectpropelling device located in proximity to said playing surface so as tobe capable of propelling a playing object upon said playing surface,said propelling device being pivotable about a predetermined arc wherebysaid propelling device can effect propelling of said playing object invarious directions upon said playing surface; a cluster of individualupstanding target members vertically movably mounted on said playingsurface spaced at varying distances from said propelling device, andincluding individually operable actuatable means operatively mounted onone side of each of said target members for individually moving therespective target members from a raised target position to a loweredinoperative position and which can be actuated by a playing object onlywhen struck by the playing object at an angle of approach from saidpropelling device or off of said bumper rail means toward said one sideof the target members, at least some of the target members beingdisposed on the playing surface with said one sides and actuatable meansfacing outwardly at varying angles relative to each other from saidcluster, said playing surface being unobstructed between said propellingdevice and said actuatable means to provide clear passage of approach ofthe playing object to the actuatable means; and scoring indicia aboutsaid cluster of target members for registry therewith to indicate thespecific score when the actuatable means on the respective target meansis struck by the playing object, said scoring means including indiciawhich increases in value from the side of said cluster of target membersnearest said propelling device to the opposite side of said cluster oftarget members furthest away from said propelling device so that theindicia value for an indIvidual target member generally is commensuratewith the degree of difficulty in striking the actuatable means on therespective target members.
 2. An amusement game device, comprising:means defining a playing surface upon which a playing object may bepropelled, with bumper rail means bounding the playing surfacesubstantially thereabout; a playing object to be propelled upon saidplaying surface; a playing object propelling device located in proximityto said playing surface so as to be capable of propelling a playingobject upon said playing surface, said propelling device being pivotableabout a predetermined arc whereby said propelling device can effectpropelling of said playing object in various directions upon saidplaying surface; a cluster of target members mounted on a rotatablemember pivotally mounted on said playing surface for selective rotationabout a generally vertical axis spaced from the target member; scoringmeans extending in an arcuate pattern adjacent the path of movement ofsaid target members for registry with the target members when saidrotatable member comes to rest; and means for randomly stopping saidrotatable member after rotation is initiated, including detent means soas to bring the target members to discrete rest, target positions inregistry with discrete portions of said scoring means.
 3. An amusementdevice, comprising: means defining a playing surface upon which aplaying object may be propelled, with bumper rail means bounding theplaying surface substantially thereabout; a playing object to bepropelled upon said playing surface; a playing object propelling devicelocated in proximity to said playing surface so as to be capable ofpropelling a playing object upon said playing surface, said propellingdevice being pivotable about a predetermined arc to effect propelling ofsaid playing object at various angles upon the playing surface andagainst the bumper rail means; and a cluster of individual upstandingtarget members mounted on said playing surface spaced at varyingdistances from said propelling device, and including individuallyoperable actuatable means on one side of each of said target members forindividually moving the respective target members from a raised targetposition to a lowered inoperative position and which can be actuated bya playing object only when the actuatable means is struck by the objectat an angle of approach toward said one side of the target members, atleast some of the target members being disposed on the playing surfacewith the one sides thereof and the actuatable means thereat facingoutwardly at varying angles relative to each other from said cluster soas to require at least certain of said target members to be struck byrebounding the playing object off of said bumper rail means at differentangles, said playing surface being unobstructed between said propellingdevice and said actuatable means to provide clear passage of approach ofthe playing object to the actuatable means.
 4. The game device of claim3 including actuatable cocking-release means mounted on each of thetarget members for movement relative thereto as well as movabletherewith between said raised and lowered positions, saidcocking-release means holding the respective target member in a cockedraised position with the cocking-release means adjacent the playingsurface for actuation by an object propelled by the propelling deviceover the playing surface for releasing the respective target member andcausing the target member to drop to its lowered position.
 5. The gamedevice of claim 4 including means to automatically reset saidcocking-release means on the respective target member when said targetmember is raised from said lowered position.
 6. An amusement gamedevice, comprising: means defining a playing surface upon which aplaying object may be propelled, with bumper rail means bounding theplaying surface substantially thereabout; a playing object to bepropelled upon said playing surfacE; a playing object propelling devicelocated in proximity to said playing surface so as to be capable ofpropelling a playing object upon said playing surface, said propellingdevice being pivotable about a predetermined arc whereby said propellingdevice can effect propelling of said playing object in variousdirections upon said playing surface; a cluster of individual upstandingtarget members mounted on said playing surface spaced from said playingobject and including individually operable actuatable means on each ofsaid target members which can be actuated by a playing object only whenthe target member is struck by the playing object at at least onepredetermined angle of approach from said propelling device or off ofsaid bumper rail means, said cluster of target members being mounted ona rotatable member pivotally mounted on said playing surface forselective rotation about a generally vertical axis spaced from thetarget members; scoring means about said cluster of target members forregistry therewith to indicate the specific score when the actuatablemeans on the respective target means is struck by the playing object,said scoring means including indicia which extends in an arcuate patternabout the rotatable member and which increases in value from the side ofsaid cluster of target members nearest said propelling device to theopposite side of said cluster of target members furthest away from saidpropelling device so that the indicia value for an individual targetmember generally is commensurate with the degree of difficulty instriking the actuatable means on the respective target members; andmeans to randomly stop said rotatable member after rotation is initiatedso that said target members are in discrete rest, target positions inregistry with indicia of said scoring means there being more restpositions and associated indicia than there are target members.